United States History
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Required Textbook and Materials
The American Vision: Modern Times
Students must bring notebook, paper (white, lined), pens (blue/black ink only), pencils, notes, and class assignments to class every day. Students should keep their work neatly in a notebook with a section for US History. Students will not need their books in class; they may be kept at home. |
Class Work/Homework
1. Types of assignments are: reading, note taking, journal entries, textbook work, watching documentary and dramatic films,
graded discussions, essays, creative writing, research and project work, oral presentations and dramatizations, reviews,
quizzes, and tests. All assignments count for points, including notes.
2. Students should read their textbooks to study terms, events, historical figures, and concepts. They should review terms and
notes for about 20 minutes each night. Quizzes will be given weekly.
3. Written homework will be assigned 1-2 nights a week.
4. Assignments must be turned in on the due date. They will be accepted one day late for half credit. No other late work will
be accepted, except in the case of excused absences. Students have as many days as they were absent to make up the work.
Homework passes may be used for no more than one week after the original due date.
5. Students should ask for extra help if needed. See the teacher during lunch or after school.
Grading Procedures
1. Grading is point-based and will follow the traditional scale:
90% or above = A 80-89% = B 70-79% = C 60-69% = D 59% or below = F
2. Assignments will typically be worth the following:
-- Daily Participation = 5 points a day; can only be made up with an excused absence
-- Classwork/Homework Assignments = 5-30 points per assignment, depending on length and difficulty
-- Quizzes = 5-20 points; quizzes may be given each week and after films.
-- Tests = 100-200 points; tests will be given at the end of a unit; usually every 3 weeks or so.
3. Assignments are graded according to this basic rubric:
A = Excellent work: shows clear evidence of full understanding, thorough research and work, top effort
B = Good work: shows evidence of good understanding, good research, complete work, shows much effort
C = Fair work: shows evidence of some understanding, some research, some effort
D = Poor work: shows evidence of little understanding, little research, little effort
F = Little or no work: shows very little or no evidence of understanding, very little or no research or effort
4. Grades will be updates on Zangle by Thursday approximately every two weeks and an update will be given in class. If a student wishes to
discuss grades with me, he/she should come see me outside of class (lunch or after school).
Attendance
1. Good attendance is essential to full participation in this class. Daily participation is part of the grade and much of the work can only be done
during class (group work, film notes).
2. If a student must be absent and knows in advance (as with athletic events, activities, and field trips), he/she must inform the teacher and get the
work ahead of time. It is due upon return to class.
3. If a student has been absent, he/she should ask for the work missed and turn it in by the deadline given. If the class took notes when the
student was absent, it is the responsibility of the student to obtain the notes missed as soon as possible.
4. Unexcused tardies will result in a deduction of participation points.
Behavioral Expectations
1. Students will be in their seats and ready to work (materials out; pencils sharpened) when the bell rings. When the dismissal bell rings,
students will wait for the teacher’s signal before leaving.
2. Students will stay on task during the course of the class and refrain from disruptive behavior.
3. Students will be quiet and attentive while the teacher is giving information; students will raise their hands and wait to be called on during class
discussions.
4. Students will keep all electronic devices (cell phones, iPods, etc.) set on mute or turned off and put away during class unless they are being used in a
class activity (see below). If such items cause disruption or distraction, they may be confiscated by the teacher. Students who have such devices out
during a test will have points deducted or may receive a zero and a referral. Parents: please discourage your students from expecting to take phone calls
from you during the day; remind them that they can check voice mail or texts from you during passing period or at lunch. Phone calls regarding family
emergencies should be made through the office.
5. Students will remove all hats and hoods during class.
6. Students will not eat or chew gum in class. Sealed bottles of water or sports drinks are allowed as long as they do not disrupt or distract learning and
must be disposed of properly in the recycle bin.
7. Students will help keep the classroom neat and orderly.
8. Students will do their own work -- no copying work of any kind. Academic dishonesty will result in a deduction of points or a zero on an assignment for all
students involved. Repeat offenses will result in disciplinary action at the administrative level.
9. Students will use appropriate language and refrain from demeaning others.
10. In general, students are expected to treat others as they would like to be treated – with respect.
Consequences
Step 1: Warning; Step 2: student-teacher conference and detention; Step 3: Parent contact; Step 4: Referral to Assistant Principal
Detentions are for 1 hour.
Classroom Conditions
1. In order to minimize disruptions, the classroom door is kept closed. Please enter and exit quietly if using a pass.
2. In order to maximize the air conditioning so it will stay cool the entire day, the room is kept at a cool temperature. If you are someone who gets cold in
air conditioned rooms; please bring a light sweater or jacket. Sorry for any inconvenience.
3. Please do not wear strong perfumes or colognes nor use strong smelling lotions, etc, in class. Many people have allergies to such materials (including
your teacher!).
Film Permission (for parents)
In order to bring history to life, films are sometimes used in class. Many of these films are documentaries such as those shown on History Channel and PBS. Some popular Hollywood films have depicted events and people in a historically accurate way and therefore may have PG, PG-13, or R ratings. From time to time I will use excerpts or the entirety of such films in my class. In order to view these films in the classroom, students are required to bring permission slips from their parents or guardians. I have only selected films or film clips that I think are valuable to the units that we are studying, and each of them has been or will be approved by our principal before being shown. In the interest of efficiency, I would like to ask you to give your permission in advance. Please sign the form attached to the syllabus handed out in class to indicate whether your student may view the films shown in class. You may add a note to qualify or clarify the limits of your permission, for example, if you wish to limit their viewing to PG or PG-13 or would like a special permission slip to sign for each film.
Educational Technology
I recently earned my master’s degree in Educational Technology and have been introduced to ways that various social networking sites can be used in the classroom. Therefore, I have created a class Facebook page in addition to this website. I will be posting daily homework, reminders about upcoming tests, information about projects or extra credit opportunities and other information as Facebook status updates as well as here on the website in the US History Daily Assignments section. I will also be conducting online topical discussions and bonus quizzes using Facebook. Students are encouraged to join those pages and to keep up with what’s going on in my class. I will be instructing the students as to what is appropriate for them to post in reply to any concepts and I will be monitoring what is posted and dealing with any inappropriate postings accordingly. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Also, I occasionally allow students to use their smart phones for research purposes during class. It is understood that they will be using them for research only.
Contact Information
Email address: hsutton@cnusd.k12.ca.us (I check email regularly; this is the most efficient communication).
School phone: 739-5670 (please leave a message during class hours; best time to reach me is after school).
This website: Contact Me page and links to student and parent connect.
Please turn in the contact information sheet and permission slip form attached to this page in the version handed out in class.
For a downloadable copy of this syllabus, please click here.
For a downloadable copy of the Parent Signature and Student Profile sheet, please click here.
1. Types of assignments are: reading, note taking, journal entries, textbook work, watching documentary and dramatic films,
graded discussions, essays, creative writing, research and project work, oral presentations and dramatizations, reviews,
quizzes, and tests. All assignments count for points, including notes.
2. Students should read their textbooks to study terms, events, historical figures, and concepts. They should review terms and
notes for about 20 minutes each night. Quizzes will be given weekly.
3. Written homework will be assigned 1-2 nights a week.
4. Assignments must be turned in on the due date. They will be accepted one day late for half credit. No other late work will
be accepted, except in the case of excused absences. Students have as many days as they were absent to make up the work.
Homework passes may be used for no more than one week after the original due date.
5. Students should ask for extra help if needed. See the teacher during lunch or after school.
Grading Procedures
1. Grading is point-based and will follow the traditional scale:
90% or above = A 80-89% = B 70-79% = C 60-69% = D 59% or below = F
2. Assignments will typically be worth the following:
-- Daily Participation = 5 points a day; can only be made up with an excused absence
-- Classwork/Homework Assignments = 5-30 points per assignment, depending on length and difficulty
-- Quizzes = 5-20 points; quizzes may be given each week and after films.
-- Tests = 100-200 points; tests will be given at the end of a unit; usually every 3 weeks or so.
3. Assignments are graded according to this basic rubric:
A = Excellent work: shows clear evidence of full understanding, thorough research and work, top effort
B = Good work: shows evidence of good understanding, good research, complete work, shows much effort
C = Fair work: shows evidence of some understanding, some research, some effort
D = Poor work: shows evidence of little understanding, little research, little effort
F = Little or no work: shows very little or no evidence of understanding, very little or no research or effort
4. Grades will be updates on Zangle by Thursday approximately every two weeks and an update will be given in class. If a student wishes to
discuss grades with me, he/she should come see me outside of class (lunch or after school).
Attendance
1. Good attendance is essential to full participation in this class. Daily participation is part of the grade and much of the work can only be done
during class (group work, film notes).
2. If a student must be absent and knows in advance (as with athletic events, activities, and field trips), he/she must inform the teacher and get the
work ahead of time. It is due upon return to class.
3. If a student has been absent, he/she should ask for the work missed and turn it in by the deadline given. If the class took notes when the
student was absent, it is the responsibility of the student to obtain the notes missed as soon as possible.
4. Unexcused tardies will result in a deduction of participation points.
Behavioral Expectations
1. Students will be in their seats and ready to work (materials out; pencils sharpened) when the bell rings. When the dismissal bell rings,
students will wait for the teacher’s signal before leaving.
2. Students will stay on task during the course of the class and refrain from disruptive behavior.
3. Students will be quiet and attentive while the teacher is giving information; students will raise their hands and wait to be called on during class
discussions.
4. Students will keep all electronic devices (cell phones, iPods, etc.) set on mute or turned off and put away during class unless they are being used in a
class activity (see below). If such items cause disruption or distraction, they may be confiscated by the teacher. Students who have such devices out
during a test will have points deducted or may receive a zero and a referral. Parents: please discourage your students from expecting to take phone calls
from you during the day; remind them that they can check voice mail or texts from you during passing period or at lunch. Phone calls regarding family
emergencies should be made through the office.
5. Students will remove all hats and hoods during class.
6. Students will not eat or chew gum in class. Sealed bottles of water or sports drinks are allowed as long as they do not disrupt or distract learning and
must be disposed of properly in the recycle bin.
7. Students will help keep the classroom neat and orderly.
8. Students will do their own work -- no copying work of any kind. Academic dishonesty will result in a deduction of points or a zero on an assignment for all
students involved. Repeat offenses will result in disciplinary action at the administrative level.
9. Students will use appropriate language and refrain from demeaning others.
10. In general, students are expected to treat others as they would like to be treated – with respect.
Consequences
Step 1: Warning; Step 2: student-teacher conference and detention; Step 3: Parent contact; Step 4: Referral to Assistant Principal
Detentions are for 1 hour.
Classroom Conditions
1. In order to minimize disruptions, the classroom door is kept closed. Please enter and exit quietly if using a pass.
2. In order to maximize the air conditioning so it will stay cool the entire day, the room is kept at a cool temperature. If you are someone who gets cold in
air conditioned rooms; please bring a light sweater or jacket. Sorry for any inconvenience.
3. Please do not wear strong perfumes or colognes nor use strong smelling lotions, etc, in class. Many people have allergies to such materials (including
your teacher!).
Film Permission (for parents)
In order to bring history to life, films are sometimes used in class. Many of these films are documentaries such as those shown on History Channel and PBS. Some popular Hollywood films have depicted events and people in a historically accurate way and therefore may have PG, PG-13, or R ratings. From time to time I will use excerpts or the entirety of such films in my class. In order to view these films in the classroom, students are required to bring permission slips from their parents or guardians. I have only selected films or film clips that I think are valuable to the units that we are studying, and each of them has been or will be approved by our principal before being shown. In the interest of efficiency, I would like to ask you to give your permission in advance. Please sign the form attached to the syllabus handed out in class to indicate whether your student may view the films shown in class. You may add a note to qualify or clarify the limits of your permission, for example, if you wish to limit their viewing to PG or PG-13 or would like a special permission slip to sign for each film.
Educational Technology
I recently earned my master’s degree in Educational Technology and have been introduced to ways that various social networking sites can be used in the classroom. Therefore, I have created a class Facebook page in addition to this website. I will be posting daily homework, reminders about upcoming tests, information about projects or extra credit opportunities and other information as Facebook status updates as well as here on the website in the US History Daily Assignments section. I will also be conducting online topical discussions and bonus quizzes using Facebook. Students are encouraged to join those pages and to keep up with what’s going on in my class. I will be instructing the students as to what is appropriate for them to post in reply to any concepts and I will be monitoring what is posted and dealing with any inappropriate postings accordingly. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Also, I occasionally allow students to use their smart phones for research purposes during class. It is understood that they will be using them for research only.
Contact Information
Email address: hsutton@cnusd.k12.ca.us (I check email regularly; this is the most efficient communication).
School phone: 739-5670 (please leave a message during class hours; best time to reach me is after school).
This website: Contact Me page and links to student and parent connect.
Please turn in the contact information sheet and permission slip form attached to this page in the version handed out in class.
For a downloadable copy of this syllabus, please click here.
For a downloadable copy of the Parent Signature and Student Profile sheet, please click here.
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